Tunisia- Overview

In January 2014, the National Constituent Assembly adopted a new constitution, significantly strengthening human rights protections in Tunisia. Following the 2010 revolution, civil society organisations grew in influence and are now able to operate much more freely than they did during the dictatorship of Ben Ali. The remnants of the old regime, especially legislation restricting free speech, together with the ambiguity of some new legal provisions regulating the formation and operation of civil society organisations still have the potential to undermine civic freedoms. LGBTI activists face harassment and intimidation as authorities take part in a campaign claiming that LGBTI people are a threat to Muslim and Arabic identity. Protest rights are protected in the constitution however archaic laws and the use of excessive force undermine this in practice.